Though I’ve been breastfeeding for three and a half years, I’ve never been much of a pumper. Mostly because neither of my kids has ever agreed to take a bottle, and a little because it sounds like work. I have huge admiration for pumping moms who can’t breastfeed for one reason or another but still give their child the gift of breastmilk. Now that’s dedication.

New-ish mama Jennifer tested out a new product for pumping moms for us:

Simple Wishes, a company run by four sisters, has recently introduced the Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier. While at first glance it’s kind of silly looking, it’s actually an affordable and quality alternative to (1) sitting in a chair and holding two cones on your boobs or (2) the highly unflattering and fidgety products of similar function that have been on the market for the past few years.

The design of the Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier is quite innovative, with adjustable straps and the option to be worn many different ways to ensure a flattering fit no matter how full a woman’s breasts are at any given time. The two front zippers allow you to move the breast shields closer together or further apart by 2 inches, and the velcro back panel allows you to adjust the ribcage band size by a full 10 inches, creating a perfect fit just for you. It’s designed with elastic reinforcement at the top for a secure & slip-free fit, and it comes with two straps which can be worn in halter, tank or racerback style. The Bustier can be worn on it’s own or slipped over your nursing bra with the flaps pulled down. When you’re done pumping, you can just pop some nursing pads in and wear the Bustier all day long. It’s machine washable too! - by Jennifer

Win it! We’re giving away a Simple Wishes Hands Free Pumping Bustier valued at $35 to one randomly selected reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post before noon mst on July 14, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED (Congrats Ammie! It’s so rare we’ve had winner who blog lately I had to throw a link in for you!)

Contrary to what I heard & read before my first child was born, breastfeeding isn’t always easy. Though I’ve exclusively nursed two children for a looooong time and it certainly got easy and wonderful and even blissful, it didn’t start out that way. Either time.

My memories of learning to nurse my first consist of requiring a nurse, my mom, my husband, a stool and a huge pillow in order to get him properly latched, and heaven forbid the pillow slip or the footstool not be in exactly the right position. The creams, the pain – OhGoodLordInHeaven the pain – it was all normal (for me) but it’s a good thing I was so committed to my children never having formula or I surely would have given up. Once the first 6-8 weeks passed and I was able to nurse him pain-free anywhere & anytime, it was just as amazing as I originally thought it would be from the beginning. Had I had the Simply Breastfeeding DVD with Shari Criso of My Baby Experts prior to giving birth, I would have been much more prepared and well educated.

The “breastfeeding educational program” is incredibly thorough. It runs 2 hours and comes on 2 discs. Part one addresses the benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby, and helps you establish a strong personal reason WHY you want to breastfeed, and part two teaches you exactly HOW to breastfeed. It’s organized into helpful chapters so it’s easy to skip to the topic you want or watch it straight through in one sitting.

Some of what you’ll learn from Simply Breastfeeding, as stated on Shari’s website:

* Amazing Benefits For Both You & Your Baby – that You Might Not Have Heard Before
* Exactly How to Hold Your Baby – with real Mom & Baby demonstrations
* How to Prevent the Unneccessary Nipple Pain You Hear About in Other Mom’s Horror Stories
* Exactly How Much Milk Your Baby Needs Each Day During the First Few Weeks, As Well As Signs and Clues for You to Follow to Make Sure Your Baby is Getting Enough Milk
* How and When to Give Your Baby a Bottle
* How to Avoid the Biggest Mistake that Most Parents Make in the Hospital….

Whether you have a lactation consultant available to you or not, and whether you take a breastfeeding class or not (and no, the half hour devoted to it in prenatal class doesn’t count), this DVD will be invaluable to you in your quest to breatfeed your child. I’ve pretty much been nursing for three years straight, and even I learned some new things about those little newbies that make me feel like I’m in labour all over again.

The My Baby Experts blog has lots of great information for all parents – lactating or not.

Buy it from Amazon or the My Baby Experts site for $40.

Win it! We’re giving away a copy of this awesomely awesome DVD set. To enter, leave a comment before noon mst on May 22, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

There’s no doubt that we’re in the midst of a recession, and even if you’re one of the lucky ones who hasn’t lost any money or jobs you’re sure to be feeling the urge to be a little bit more careful with your spare cash. However, that doesn’t mean you’ve lost your desire to splurge for yourself and your babes on high quality and functional merchandise.

Medicine Hat, Alberta based ChicPeek, offers a great variety of incredibly high quality products at great prices. Owner & designer Echo Wells is a mom of three who has been creating beautiful items for over 15 years. Her experience is evident as soon as you see her products in person. They’re of a highly professional quality but sell for a handmade price.

The ChicPeek nursing covers (a steal at $24.99 without your discount – see below) is truly one of a kind. (Pictured in the two centre images at right.) Made of a gorgeous cashmere & silk pashmina (black or brown), it’s the required amount of discreet and modest, but unusually fashionable for a nursing cover. There are enough “Hey, guess what? I’m breastfeeding!” (a.k.a. ugly) nursing covers out there; it’s about time someone made one like this. Essentially just a long & wide scarf that’s strategically sewn with a head & arm hole, it covers all the way around, making it fully tug-proof. There’s an open side so one hand is always free to multi-task, and it’s the perfect weight to not swelter you or baby while you cuddle. If someone notices that you’re nursing, it’s likely either someone who has seen one of Echo’s great covers before or who spotted the gorgeous little toes peeking out from underneath. Even better is that when you’re done nursing or in between children, your nursing cover is a beautiful scarf that you can wear several ways without anyone having any idea that it once hid your boobs from strangers.

ChicPeek offers a large selection of Miklips hair bows & clips for newbies and right up to moms. From the most adorable corkers to gorgeous big bows, the Chic Peek clips are of top quality, stay in your hair and are absolutely gorgeous.

Most of all, though, I was thrilled to discover the ChicPeek buggie hugs shopping cart cover ($49.99 – two bottom images at right). I have looked everywhere – brick and morter as well as online – and ChicPeek is the first place I’ve found stylish looking covers with holes and belts for two children to share the front seat of a cart. (The standards is two holes and one belt, but just ask and Echo will put another belt in for you.) The design of her buggy hugs are brilliant. Aside from the extra wide leg holes to accommodate one leg or two, these are also the only covers I’ve seen come equipped with an attached caribiner to secure the cover to the cart. My kids ride in the different shades of red pattern, which is gorgeous and commented on everywhere we go – particularly Costco when both kids are germ free & buckled in the front seat of the cart. If you’re going to have a second child before your first turns four, I highly recommend you pick up a Chic Peek buggy hug and get a second belt put in. The longer you can contain them safely, the happier you’ll be. Trust me on that.

Mention T.O.P. when you order and Echo will refund 10% of your order (because her cart won’t currently accept discount codes.)

This is just one of many great exclusive online shopping discounts that you’ll find in our TOP Shops.

You’ll notice that ChicPeek was the first to purchase one of our brand new image based TOP Shop spots, right at the top of the page. Check out her adorable ad!

Win it! Thanks to ChicPeek, we’re giving one very lucky randomly selected T.O.P. reader a gorgeous nursing cover, a selection of MiKlips AND a shopping cart cover! To enter, visit Chic Peek and come back to comment with your favourite items, patterns & styles, being sure to mention something that you didn’t read in this review in order to qualify. Open it in a new tab – you’ll want to go back and spend some more time browsing! Contest closes at noon mst on April 7, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Though breastmilk certainly is no less than the complete & amazing food of love, after reading Kate Evan’s book I can’t decide if the title is intended with a healthy dose of snark or not. Same goes for the subtitle, “Your Formula For Successful Breastfeeding.” Very clever, if not tongue in cheek.

It’s packed to the brim with (correct) information, inspiration and hilarious (and I’m not just saying that) anecdotes and illustrations, and is by far the best breastfeeding book I’ve read in a long long time. And I’m pretty sure I’ve read almost all of them.

It’s the kind of book I’d like to give to all pregnant mothers (because goodness knows once the baby comes there’s no way they’re finding time to read until they actually have the breastfeeding thing mastered and can nurse & read simultaneously) because it gives all of the details you need to learn to nurse – and, as simple as it seems, there are a lot of details – and also covers co-sleeping, babywearing and postpartum depression in a succinct & research based, yet very down to earth manner. And it’s square, so it’ll stay open hands-free. That way, if neither you or your thoughtful friends were savvy enough to pick it up early, you can read it when you’ve got both hands full of baby.

Win it! We’ve got two copies of The Food of Love to ship to two randomly selected winners. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon mst on April 1, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNERS EMAILED

If you’ve had a baby, you’ve experienced the post-birth look my friend likes to call the Grimace. It feels gross and it looks gross. Of course, it’s all worth it, but it never hurts to try a little something – anything, really – that is purported to make you both feel and look better. Belly wrapping has been around for centuries, practiced by many cultures around the world. Belly Bandit™ has put a modern spin to it by creating a soft, seamless and tagless wrap that helps new mamas by shrinking the uterus, reduce bloating caused by water retention and providing the back support and confidence you need to walk upright like the human you used to feel like.

I had my baby a couple of weeks before my Belly Bandit arrived in the mail but have been wearing it since I got it and it certainly seems to be helping. Not only does it make me feel better and more secure with walking post-cesarean but my tummy seems a little tighter each day than it did at the same time with my previous births. It also helps me feel more confident and to remember to sit upright when I’m nursing or rocking my little one.

The compression wrap can be used a day after delivery to help reduce swelling of the uterus and bloating from water retention. The stretchy Velcro bound wrap is available in three different styles, Original ($40), Couture ($50), and Bamboo ($60) and can be worn for six to eight weeks post-birth. Buy it online. – by Shannon

Win it! We’re giving away a Belly Bandit! To enter, go choose your favourite Belly Bandit style and leave a comment here letting us know which one you’d like to have. Once the draw is complete, you’ll be able to send an exact measurement to ensure it fits. Contest closes at noon mst on January 29, 2009.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I’m a very proud breastfeeding mother. I feed my kids anywhere, any time they’re hungry. Both of them have had the awesome habit of stroking my neck or chest while they’re nursing and it’s fabulous, but it’s not so fabulous when they get a little older and it becomes hair pulling, eye gouging and nose picking. I wish I’d discovered the Etsy shop Risky Beads a few years ago. The Risky Beads nurse purse is the perfect solution for preventing non-breast nursing injuries. (Sorry, they won’t stop the nipples as a teething toy thing.)

I have the Pomegranate Nurse Purse (pictured) and both my daughter and I love it. It’s a stunning 33 mm red carnelian gogo donut strung on dark brown waxed cotton cord. It’s the ‘downscaled for the purse’ version of the linked image, which is an agate gogo donut strung on red and gold organza ribbon and dark brown leather cord and accented with a tiger iron rondelle. Extender chains are available if you like your necklaces extra long.

My little Bella loves holding onto and staring at the pendant while she nurses, and it prevents her from pulling my hair the majority of the time. The Risky Beads stones are cold and smooth to the touch and have a hole in the middle that makes it easy for babies to hold onto.

The nurse purse sells for only $12 (I know! Crazy!) and makes a great baby shower gift for the new mama. I love having mine with me everywhere I go – it especially distracts my daughter from pulling my clothing off while she’s nursing on the bench at the mall. Necklaces are also available sans the purse & fancied up for under $25 in the regular necklace section.

With your purchase, you’ll get promotional offers from several other Etsy sellers. You know what’s risky? Not having a nurse purse handy when your baby is hungry. Buy one – your eyeballs and hair follicles will thank you.

Win it! Your choice of nurse purse is up for grabs! Head over to this link to choose the one you want most, and come back to comment with your choice. Contest closes at noon mst on Friday, December 12, 2008.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED (#25)

When I was learning to breastfeed my first baby, I wasn’t all that shocked (well, maybe that’s a lie) at the cracking, scabbing and as-bad-as-labour searing pain that came with it for the first few weeks. I was, however, shocked that as an experienced exclusive breastfeeder the same thing happened when I began to nurse my second child. Granted, it didn’t last quite as long and it wasn’t quite as bad but holy bajeebus did it ever hurt. Without a lot of air drying, a little relief-pumping and some great natural products, there would have been a lot more screaming heard from my house.

You likely remember the recent headline news about the nipple cream for nursing moms that contained potentially harmful ingredients (chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol) that could cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. This product was taken off the market, thank goodness, and we’ve got a great alternative for you.

Nipple Nurture Butter and Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads from Bella B Natural Bodycare are 100% edible and are perfectly safe for newborns and moms.

Nipple Nurture Butter ($9.99 for 2 oz.) is a great lanolin-free alternative to other breastfeeding creams. Many people are unaware that lanolin comes from sheep’s wool. Nipple Nurture Butter is an excellent alternative for those that prefer a plant-based product. It contains only the very best natural ingredients including cocoa, shea and mango butter. All of the ingredients are food-grade and free of parabens (which, in case you didn’t know, are controversial but widely used artificial preservatives that are rapidly absorbed, have estrogenic activity and have been found in breast tumours).

Nipple Nurture Cleansing Pads ($9.99 for 80 pads) are a clean, natural solution to cleaning nipples before and after breastfeeding (which I had never done prior to discovering these pads and still don’t do reguarly, but it’s lovely and would be especially awesome in times of thrush.) They not only clean tender nipples but provide excellent soothing and healing properties. Fortified with aloe vera, the cleaning solution is healing and refreshing to sore, cracked nipples.

Win it! One randomly selected winner will win one of each of these great products, together valued at $19.98. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post before noon MST on July 25/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED – WINNER EMAILED – Congrats Heather!

Living in one of the windier regions of Canada, I find I need to have several blankets on hand because they’re always blowing off and landing in the dirt.

For that reason and many more, I am loving my new Blanket Clipz from 3 Kids Designs. A simple but sturdy ribbon with clips at each end, Blanket Clipz keep my baby’s blanket on the stroller, car seat, swing, bouncy chair and shopping cart.

We’re all about multi-functional around here, and Blanket Clipz don’t disappoint. In addition to keeping blankets in place, they’re also great for clipping keys to my diaper bag so they won’t fall to the black hole, making a bib from any napkin or cloth and clipping a blanket to my shoulder for nursing privacy.

I’m sure there are more uses – I just haven’t discovered them yet!

Win it! We’ve got a pink camo set of Blanket Clips with your name on it. Well, maybe. If you win. To enter, simply leave a comment on this post by noon MST on July 24/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED – WINNER EMAILED

I am often asked what inspired me to start The Opinionated Parent (mostly by people who don’t know what a blog is) and here’s the answer:

I am opinionated. Very, very opinionated. I always have been. When my firstborn arrived, I realized that I also had strong opinions about all of the “stuff” that comes along with parenthood. When I received the nursing pillow to end all nursing pillows (after having tried every one that’s available in local stores, so I do know what I’m talking about) I told everyone who would listen about how great it was. When I couldn’t find anyone else to listen, I started a blog.

And there you have it.

If you won’t listen, somebody else will. I will be heard.

(And I’m always right. Just ask my husband.)

My first ever post at the site now known as The Opinionated Parent was about The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow. I encourage you to go back and read this post about just how fantastic it is and all of the reasons why I love it. Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle feeding, holding a baby, are pregnant (in my second pregnancy my Baby Buddy was a lifesaver and the only reason I was comfortable enough to sleep many nights!) or are simply cuddled up with a good book, I have no doubt that you will love The Baby Buddy too.

TOP readers always save 10% on their orders from TheBabyBuddy.ca with the code top10.

Win it! As the newest addition to our premium sponsors in the right sidebar and an exclusive “TOP Pick” of The Opinionated Parent, The Baby Buddy Nursing Pillow is giving away one of these great pillows with the flannel or cotton pillowcase of the winner’s choice! To enter, visit TheBabyBuddy.ca to choose your favourite pillowcase fabric. Then come back and leave a comment on this post letting us know which one you’d choose if you’re the lucky winner. Contest closes at noon MST on June 26/08.

Additional entries available – up to four per person. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

Frozen peas, cabbage leaves, bags of lumpy ice cubes, warm washcloths or untimely hot showers? I have used most of these at one time for relief from engorgement or plugged milk ducts. And although they (sort of!) worked, they were not comfortable or convenient. Just one week ago our precious baby girl was born and now I am right in the middle of that plugged duct/engorgement stage. I think breastfeeding is wonderful, however, mastitis, plugged ducts, etc. are not quite so wonderful. But this time I have a solution.

Blossumz soothing breast therapy packs! These are warm/cool gel packs which provide relief and comfort for breastfeeding mothers and also for those who have undergone breast surgery. I have found the Blossumz gel packs extremely useful already and I have only been breastfeeding for one week. I’m sure they will get a lot more use throughout the next year as I continue to breastfeed our baby girl.

These are not just any gel packs though. They have some great features, such as: they provide generous coverage; they are light weight, the gel can be distributed in or out of the gel packs center (nipple area) according to personal preference, and of course the best part – they can be used over and over again. Blossumz also has 100% cotton covers available for the gel packs, and I found that the cover provided a nice, soft layer between the gel pack and my skin.

I found Blossumz gel packs very easy to use, extremely comfortable, and I give them a double thumbs up! - Andrea

Save 15% with the cide OPPROMO until July 31, 2008.

Win it! Blossumz is giving away a set of gel packs valued at $34.99. To enter, leave a comment on this post – one winner will be drawn at random after noon MST on June 12/08.

Additional entries available. See contest entry information and rules.

CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED

I can think of a lot of words to describe how I feel at this time in my life…nursing a newborn, recovering from a second unplanned c-section, mothering a teething toddler that still doesn’t sleep through the night. Frumpy and flabby come to mind. Sexy does not.

However, the nursing bra I’ve been wearing from Passion Spice is sure helping!

Passion Spice offers both Sexy (but still comfy and practical) Nursing Bras and Maternity Lingerie. All of their products are made with luxuriously soft fabric so you can add some spice to your life without compromising the comfort that you are totally entitled to when you’re pregnant or nursing.

I can personally vouch for the comfort of these bras. I need to keep ‘the girls’ hoisted 24/7 and my Passion Spice bra is comfortable enough to do the job. The wires don’t dig in at all but do add a lovely ‘lift & separate’ that I’ve been missing.

New Passion Spice owners Wes & Katy Linda provide fast and helpful service and look forward to helping you feel sexy during the most wonderful times of your life.

Win it! Passion Spice is giving away a sexy nursing bra and the matching bottoms of choice to one lucky TOP reader in your choice of style, colour & size. To enter, leave a comment on this post with the name of the bra style you’d choose if you win! (We don’t need you to advertise your size – we’ll contact you for that – just the style name will suffice!). Contest closes at noon MST on March 28, 2008.

Get additional entries into this contest!

1. Blog about this contest using one of the top three images found here.

2. Leave a comment on this post containing the direct link to your post (not to your main page, and in a separate comment from your other entry) or send a trackback to receive your second entry. If you don’t know how to do this, just email us for help!

AND/OR

Subscribe to our RSS feed. Leave an additional comment to let us know that you did this for your extra entry. Be sure to leave a valid email address so we can confirm your new subscription.

Maximum three entries total per person.

Contest Closed – Congrats to Chelle who said ” OOoo those are sexy!!! Meow! hehe I like the Carla Nursing Bra in Pink! Crossing my toes I win this.”